Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-05
A WOmam's Close Escape From . Ter.
Pible DEATH


SUPPOSED 10 BE DEAD SHE Is TAKEN 10 A cRExA-
TORY, AND, WHEN JUST ABOUT TO BIB SWUNG INTO
THE wHITR-HEArED OVEN, AwAKRs-TRE KMBAR-
EASEMENTS OF HER ATTENDAN7s.
The danger of burial or incineration Of bodies in
which life Is not extinct Is one OF the subjects
which will be considered the sessions OF the In
ternatonal Medical Congress in this city, and 1t is
understood that reference will be made to the fol-
lowing thrilling account OF a case in point, con-
tanned in dispatch from New York, dated July
ID last:
living woman for whom the crematOry fur
mace was at its iercest heat OF 2,7OO degrees Fa-
renheit, and for whom the alum sheet was already
prepared, Is with her husband and children, al
though on Thursday last she lay in her comm in q
room adjoining the vault where incarceration Is
done. Mount Ol1vet CrematOry, IN the form OF q
Grecian temple, is located at Fresh Pond Ii, and
Dr. Hughes, connected with It, vouches tor the cor
RICHNESS OF the story, but withhods both the name
OF the physician who signed the death certlncate
ana that of the lady for the present.
ON the day mentioned casket containing the
body OF a woman arrived at the crematOry. Ac-
companying 1t were the widower. children and
the reception room, and by its side was placed a
costly silver urn, In which the ashes We're to be
III fof mn haa
and the mOurners, one by one, took last fearful
look. The lid was replaced and the floral emblems
again placed on the coffin The widoWer and
weeping children were led away to the carriages,
and the dead was left to the crematOry assistants
for fnc1nerat1on. When they were gone men re-
moved the entire lid, and went about preparing
the alum sheet for enveloping the body and swing
ing the chilled steel cradle into position before the
glowing furnace doors While they were absent Sa3s
his back saying: "Where am II"
Turning quickly he saw the woman sitting bolt
upright In her casket, staring directly at him.
When he gathered his scattered wits he realized
that prompt action was needed, and stepping to
her side he said Familiarity: "YOu are with friends.
She had already swung her legs out OF the casket,
and was looking in a daZed way at the urn and
of the dreadful coffin and encircllng her with one
arm, he carefully kept her head turned from her
restlng-place, and half led, half carried her to
superintendent and his Wife, Soft breezes
were coming in the window, and a CHEEKY
canary bird in an alcoye sung q song OF
JOY. While the supertntendents wife removed
the garments OF death and put the lady to bed,
DR.. Hughes hurried away and returned with
some brandy and milk. The drink had the
patient, succeeded Immediately by quiet doze.
The telegraph was brought into requisitiOn, and
the husband was loon back at the crematOry with
set OF his wifeS apparel. While he was yet on
his way his wife awakened from her nap and
asked: "WhOse clothes am l weartng?" They
were those OF the crematory, but that fact was In
geniously concealed in the reply, which seemed
TO satisfy her. The severest task was when the
husband arrived, when they tried to school him
into selfcontrol for the interview. The course Of
procedure agreed upon was carried out to the
letter. The husband went into the room with the
usual inquiry as to how she felt, and said that II
She felt herself strong enough they would return
to the city; that, in his opinion, she had stayed
long enough in the country.
Acquescing in everything, although somewhat
mySt1fed, she arose, dressed herself, and an
nounced that she was ready. The husband was
now In a tortured frame OF mind. for he dreaded
the word "CTeamatOry." The shock OF the dis
cOvery he feared would kill his wife. Happily
there was rear door, and through this he led her
to close carriage and thence, regardless OF the
fact that there was no road, he had the carriage
driven straight across the lawn and field until
kindly trees hid the creamatOry from sight. Then
he took The smooth pike to the nearest railroad
station, and train thence home.
The lady'S death was attributed to heart disease,
and the doctors certificate to this effect is on file
in the health office.